From Tehran to Princeton to Prison

After 665 days of imprisonment in the United States, I, Mahmoud Reza Banki won my case on appeal and was released from prison in November 2011. I spent 11 months (out of the 22 months) in maximum and high security prisons. This is my story.

Like many,

I left my family behind and moved to the United States for a better life. And for a while, I had everything going for me. I completed my undergraduate studies at University of California at Berkeley, went on to Princeton for my PhD, and a management consulting job at McKinsey & Company took me to New York City. My future looked bright. That is until my world turned upside down on January 7, 2010.

I am an American who suffered imprisonment because of my heritage.

My story is not only a story about coming from Iran or the sanctions; it is one that sheds light on justice.

Sharing my story might prevent this from happening again. It will also help me move onto the next phase of my life. It may also help raise awareness and push for change for the better for all of us.

13 members of congress and a senator each wrote individual letters, as well as a group letter to the President to express their support for me and to highlight that this case was a grave miscarriage of justice.

How does a man defend himself against the assumption of guilt?

This is a question that Mahmoud Reza Banki, a highly educated, accomplished professional, is all too familiar with. On the morning of January 7, 2010, Department of Homeland Security agents stormed through his front door, slammed him against the wall and handcuffed him. That was the last time Reza Banki would see the outside of a prison for nearly two years. What followed was an excruciating journey to overcome injustice.

13 members of congress and a senator each wrote individual letters, as well as a group letter, directly to the President to express their support for me and to highlight that this case was a grave miscarriage of justice.

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If my story resonates with you, share it! Let’s advance the cause of justice, let’s push for a better criminal justice system for us all. Thank you for your support and for sharing.